Deputy identified in officer-involved shooting in Rancho

The March 10 shooting happened after a motorcyclist refused to stop and a deputy went to the home he was known to live in. PHOTO PAUL RODRIGUEZ, REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE

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The deputy, now identified as Manuel Cruz, reportedly shot Dennis Mueller, 20, after he told him not to move. Mueller, according to Cruz, put his hands near his waistband. the action led Cruz to believe Mueller had a gun, Lt. Brian Schmutz said. PHOTO PAUL RODRIGUEZ, REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE

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Dennis Mueller on Tuesday was charged with driving on a suspended and revoked license, reckless driving with injuries and excessive speed and unsafe lane changes, Lt. Brian Schmutz said. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 12. PHOTO PAUL RODRIGUEZ, REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE

Dennis Mitchell Mueller, 20, of Rancho Santa Margarita is the man who was shot by an Orange County Sheriff's deputy. Because of a reporting error, an earlier version of this online report misspelled his name.

Sheriff's Lt. Brian Schmutz, the city's police chief, identified the deputy as Manuel Cruz. He is back at his job after a week of leave as a result of the March 10 shooting that sent Dennis Mitchell Mueller, 20, of Rancho Santa Margarita to a hospital with several gunshot wounds. An investigation by the District Attorney's Office is ongoing, and the number of shots fired and how many times Mueller was hit has not been released, Schmutz said.

Mueller on Tuesday was charged with driving on a suspended and revoked license, reckless driving with injuries, and excessive speed and unsafe lane changes, Schmutz said.

The shooting occurred about 12:55 a.m. in front of Mueller's home on a cul-de-sac on Meadow Park Lane near Robinson Ranch Road, Schmutz said.

Cruz had tried to pull over Mueller after Cruz observed Mueller riding over the speed limit, authorities said. Cruz lost sight of Mueller but recognized him from previous contacts and went to his home.

Cruz ordered Mueller not to move, but when Mueller put his hands near his waistband, Cruz fired and hit him. Schmutz said Cruz believed Mueller was reaching for a weapon. According to neighbors, there were five to seven gunshots.

Shortly after the shooting, Mayor Tony Beall called for transparency and addressing the shooting "head-on."

"This weekend, something happened that has never happened in our city before – an officer-involved shooting," Beall said. "I believe we need to address this head-on."

Beall went on to say that the council has made public safety its No. 1 concern since incorporation in 2000. The city last year spent nearly half its budget – $7 million – on its contract with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

"Whenever there is an officer-involved shooting, we need to ask questions," Beall said. "How did the shooting occur? How many shots were fired? How many times was the young man hit? Given the conditions, was the use of deadly force necessary? These are questions that need to be answered fully, honestly and accurately and as soon as possible."

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